Tim Hands, founder and senior editor of Five Point Move, previews the second UWW Greco-Roman ranking series event, the Hungarian Grand Prix.

This coming weekend welcomes in the 2019 Hungarian Grand Prix, arguably the highest-level Greco-Roman event each year outside of the Worlds/Olympics -- and if we’re being completely honest, the Russian Nationals. 

Watch the Hungarian Grand Prix LIVE ON FLO

Prelims begin Saturday, February 23 4:00 AM ET

Of course, the stakes are higher this time around. The Hungarian GP is no longer just some European tournament featuring a bevy of World-class Greco athletes. That’s because starting last year and continuing in ‘19, it has become entrenched as one of United World Wrestling’s four “Ranking Series” events. 

Understanding what this distinction means calls for a little context: if the tournament was already heralded as a premier destination for top-flight wrestlers before UWW instituted its “Ranking Series”, then it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it is now attracting even more participation, as well as overall international attention. 

Logic. 

The Hungarian Grand Prix has quickly taken its place as a “priority tournament”. In other words, out of every major foreign event that streams throughout the year, this is one both devout observers and casual international wrestling fans alike make a point of checking out, mostly because of its penchant for producing marquee match-ups at what is still an early stage of the season. 

Such is the beauty of this thing: one needn’t be a hardcore Greco-Roman fan to derive value from what takes place this weekend. Part of that might have to do with the “Ranking Series” points (emphasis on “might”), but the greater part has to do with the names involved. 

Eight returning World medalists from 2018 are set to appear on Saturday, including champs Eldaniz Azizli (55 kg, AZE) and hometowner Peter Bacsi (82 kg, HUN). His honor, 2012 Olympic/2013 World Champion Kim Hyeon-Woo (77 kg, KOR), is also showing up. Still an innovator at age 30 who blends flowery technique with hard-driving attacks maybe better than anyone else on the planet, Kim remains a fan-favorite whose presence instantly raises the profile of any tournament he enters. 

But when you consider the Hungarian Grand Prix’s brief but already stellar history, 2019’s edition is merely par for the course. Over a dozen World and Olympic medalists have placed at the event since its inception, and even more have laced ‘em up only to be bounced out in the early rounds. 

The elite taking on the elite is the norm in Hungary. And with over 170 entrants from 25 nations getting ready to throw down on Saturday, there is a better than solid chance this year’s tournament may shape up to offer something truly special.

Where the US Team Fits In

The Americans put forth a decent collective showing two weeks ago at the Grand Prix Zagreb Open, coming away with two medalists -- Xavier Johnson (63 kg, Marines), who took silver, and G’Angelo Hancock (97 kg, Sunkist), who rebounded from a frustrating semifinal to net a bronze. Four others found themselves in position to make the podium, but unfortunately, all four came up snake eyes. 

Because of the Armed Forces Championships on Saturday, the US delegation is entering the 2019 Hungarian Grand Prix without Johnson and Marine/National Teammates Peyton Walsh (77 kg), John Stefanowicz (82 kg), and Daniel Miller (97 kg). But -- the US is also adding a pair of Olympians to its roster in Ben Provisor (87 kg, NYAC/NLWC) and Robby Smith (130 kg, NYAC/Chicago RTC) along with gaining 2017 World Team member Patrick Smith (77 kg, Minnesota Storm).

This...is...interesting. 

Provisor and Smith have been on the sidelines since June’s World Team Trials, where both were defeated in the best-of-three finals. You don’t go and make a mountain out of molehill; after all, this is a February tournament. But there are potential implications to take note of regarding their impending performances. 

2019 is expected to represent the penultimate seasons of their respective careers, though Smith has been more bullish towards that notion at this stage than Provisor. Nevertheless, there is skin in the game for both wrestlers currently that is somewhat out of the ordinary. 

Provisor, the two-time Olympian who has yet to betray any discernible signs of actual physical decline, also happens to occupy a place in what is by far the country’s deepest weight class. You might think that an overseas event during the winter doesn’t mean all that much to a guy like him, but it does. The last thing Provisor needs right now is to come out of the gate sluggish before playing a prolonged game of catch-up leading up to the spring. He doesn’t have to “wow” in Hungary, but setting a tone right from jump street that he’s still “Provisor” would go a long way towards easing any concerns that he isn’t all the way locked in. In short, you’d like to see “Big Ben” put in a statement-making day, whatever that has to look like. 

As for Smith, he will be the most compelling US athlete to watch on Saturday. It’s crazy to suggest that the 32-year-old has something to prove by now. Four World Teams, twice barely missing a medal, and an Olympic appearance is quite the resume. But after owning the heavyweight spot for over half a decade, Smith was knocked off his mantle in surprising fashion by Adam Coon (Cliff Keen) prior to the latter’s surge to the World silver. 

Make no mistake about it, Smith wants to eliminate that taste from his mouth as soon as possible. Domestically, he will have to wait until May. The next best thing he can do is take advantage of what’s in front of him right now. There are plenty of high-quality dance partners waiting for Smith in Hungary, such as former two-time World champ Heiki Nabi (EST), 2017 World bronze Yasmani Acosta Fernandez (CHI), Balint Lam (HUN), and last year’s bronze -- as well as the man Coon vanquished to make the World final -- Kim Min-Seok (KOR). 

A win or even a very strong showing against one (or more) of the above might do the trick for Smith in terms of confirming his belief that the way his 2018 campaign ended was indeed an anomaly.

The “other Smith”, Patrick Harrison, as it were, offers just as many reasons as his heavyweight namesake to watch closely on Saturday. 

Last year, Smith experienced perhaps his most frustrating season to date. He went winless overseas, took third at the Open, and was then shut down by Jon Jay Chavez (NYAC/FLWC) in the Trials’ Challenge Tournament final. Were there adjustments to make? Maybe. But more than anything else, Smith simply had to recapture his confidence and make his pressure-based style work for him, just like it always had in the past.  

As soon this current season got underway, Smith bolted for Europe, medaled in three straight events, and competed in all three at 77 kilograms. At first, it wasn’t incredibly newsworthy. Although Smith had never bumped up that high, most shrugged it off as nothing more than his desire to not cut while focusing on the training camps. This despite 2020’s Olympic funnel right around the corner. 

But next thing you knew, there was Smith at the Dave Schultz Memorial, still at 77. He collected a big win over domestic rival RaVaughn Perkins (NYAC), and in the final, was one half of an exceptionally-entertaining dustup with fellow 2017 World Teamer Mason Manville (Army/WCAP). Smith didn’t just prevail in that match-up, he displayed energy to burn and hustled through each exchange in a manner unseen dating back nearly two years. 

When Smith is at his best, win or lose, his bouts against foreigners are always a treat. He beats on them, tires them out, and is often in the argument when the waning moments of the second period arrive. Thing is, Smith is listed at 72 for the Hungarian Grand Prix, not 77. Will that matter? Only if that energy level dips and his breakneck pace falters. But if not, and Smith is clicking the same way he has been lately, a glistening piece of Hungarian hardware should be anticipated.